Georgia Federal Court Protects Web Reporter from Subpoena

July 24, 2013

Camden Military Academy was sued in federal court in South Carolina by a former student who alleged that the school failed to protect him from hazing and sexual assault. The plaintiff lives in the Atlanta area and a Georgia web publication, Southern Free Press, published a piece on the plaintiff and his suit. The military school sought to depose the reporter and issued a subpoena for her deposition in Georgia. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted the reporter’s motion to quash the subpoena on grounds that the reporter was protected from being forced to testify by privileges arising under the First Amendment and reporter shield laws in both Georgia and South Carolina. The reporter was represented by Bill Davis and Jay Bender.